Coup without a name (Scissors Coup)

A loser on loser play designed to prevent a particular opponent from gaining an entry:

                                                 W     N     E     S

                    AKJ5                2NT   X    5    5

                    Q82                   P      P     P

                    A987                (2NT=5/5 Minors)

                    98

Q                                8732

A3                              4

KQT64                      J52

AJT73                       KQ652

                    T964

                    KJT9765

                    3

                    4

West leads the Queen.  South can see a spade ruff looming so he plays the  Ace and 7.  When East, napping, plays the  5 south discards the 4 thereby cutting the defenders communication and preventing the ruff.  If East inserts the  J on the 2nd round, the defense gets their ruff.

The play "cuts" the defenders communication, and is therefore called the "Scissors Coup".

Compiled by Lorne Russell 2005